Superstructure switching device

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a superstructure switching device comprising a stock rail ( 12 ), a switching rail ( 14 ) that changes into a control rail such as a channel rail, a guide rail ( 10 ), a retainer ( 18 ) that holds the switching rail on the control rail side in a force-fit, in particular by means of a wedge element and a slide device ( 16, 30, 32, 34 ) that supports the switching rail in a sliding manner. The aim of the invention is to use a minimum of components for configuring the device, without forfeiting any functional efficiency. To achieve this, the guide rail ( 10 ) is a machined section of a rolled rail-steel section ( 24 ), which has on the control-rail side a cross-section ( 26 ) that corresponds to the control rail and seamlessly changes into the latter.

[0001] The invention relates to a railroad track switch device comprising a stock rail, a switching rail that merges into a control rail such as a channel rail, a guide rail, a retainer that holds the switching rail on the control rail side in a force-fit, in particular by means of a wedge element, and a slide device, such as a slide plate, that slidably supports the switching rail.

[0002] A corresponding railroad track switch device is known from EP 0 603 883 B1. In this case, the guide or secondary rail may consist of flat stock. The retainer, which can also be described as a switch adapter, for the switching rail accommodates the switching rail by sections and secures it, in particular, by a double wedge clamping plate. The switch adapter itself sectionally limits a channel merging into the connecting rail.

[0003] A railroad track switch device is known from DE 199 20 858 A1 in which the guide rail and support bed for the switching rail are made as one piece. For this purpose, a foundation block may be produced by casting and may be given the desired geometry by machining. The switch adapter itself can thereby also be formed from the block. This is associated with structural and production-related disadvantages which are caused by the use of a massive component. Thus, massive rectangular sections do not have a defined rolling structure due to their low degree of shaping, so that gas bubbles and shrink holes may be present in the block interior which can permeate the surface during finishing, as a result of which the function of the component is affected. Massive rectangular sections also have worse material properties and mechanical properties in comparison to individual rolled components. Since there is basically no homogeneous structure, the slight fissure elongation promotes the tendency to crack formation.

[0004] Due to the voluminous block, larger volumes must be heated during subsequent welding work, which can be required by necessary repairs, to ensure an adequate connection.

[0005] However, heat-treatment cracks result in rail steels during welding at too great a rate of cooling, i.e. with insufficient preheating. Independently thereof, a low economic efficiency is caused by the large amount of machining.

[0006] EP 013 826 A1 relates to a switching rail which has a geometric shape on the connecting rail side that corresponds to the connecting rail. To this end, there is a partial reforging of the end section of the switching rail on the rail side.

[0007] A switching device in monoblock form is known from DE 808 713 C.

[0008] The present invention is based on the problem of further developing a railroad track switch device of the aforementioned type, as well as a method for the manufacture thereof, such that only a few components must be used for manufacturing the device without forfeiting any functional efficiency. At the same time, good material properties are to be provided and they should not change, or not substantially change, during a necessary machining. Furthermore, materials are to used which exhibit optimum suitability for a railroad track switch device. A simplified production should also be made possible.

[0009] According to the invention, the problem is essentially solved in that the guide rail is a machined section of a rolled section consisting, in particular, of a rail-steel, which has on the control rail side a cross-section that corresponds to the control rail and seamlessly merges into the latter. Preferably, the rolled section is a structural rail such as a thick web rail or a filled section rail or a rectangular rail having e.g. a cross section of 180×180 mm².

[0010] In contrast to the known state of the art, a rolled section, such as a structural rail, is used as starting material for the production of the guide rail, which has good material properties and high mechanical quality values, as is known for rail steel. There is also a homogeneous structure, so that a tendency to crack is not produced. By using, in particular, rail steel, proven weld constructions are maintained, so that all elements can be made with materials best suited for their function. In particular, a rolled sheet of a wear-resistant type of steel can be used for the slide device, such as a slide plate, a possibility that is not possible when building the railroad track switch device in a monoblock manner. In addition, a more economical production is obtained, in comparison to monoblock constructions, since the processing cost, such as the machining cost, is kept within bounds.

[0011] In a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the retainer, such as a switch adapter, receiving the end of the switching rail on the control rail side is welded with the machined rolled section such as the machined structural rail. Consequently, there is an apparent monoblock construction in the area of the connection of the switching rail with the adapter, so that the advantages existing in this respect are assumed.

[0012] Alternatively, it is possible that the retainer is a reforged section of the rolled section. It is also possible to connect a separately produced retainer to the machined rolled section fixedly, e.g. by a screw connection.

[0013] The alignment of the retainer, on the one hand, to the machined rolled section and, on the other hand, to the section of the switching rail receiving the retainer is such that the channel extending in the area of the retainer and continuing in the control rail is only limited by the machined rolled section and the section of the switching rail.

[0014] To be able to carry out the necessary machining of the rolled section, even if it is a thick web rail as starting material, a further embodiment of the invention provides that the rolled section, in the form of a structural rail has before the retainer, as viewed from the switch rail tip, a course which is displaced is compared to the course in and beyond the retainer.

[0015] Alternatively, it is possible to obtain the desired course of the structural section by cutting, such as autogenous gas cutting, so that a bending is not required. This is followed by a machining. A corresponding contour is produced, in particular, with a rectangular rolled section as “starting rail”.

[0016] A CDN working of the rolled section is also possible, so that processing steps that differ from the previously described series can be performed. The railroad track switch device according to the invention has a structure which has the advantages of a monoblock construction without assuming the disadvantages thereof. In this case, appropriate materials can be used which satisfy an optimum functional efficiency without having to accept any production-related disadvantages.

[0017] It is especially advantageous if the guide rail is made from one component, that is machined to the required degree, over the entire length of the switching rail up to the control rail.

[0018] A method for forming a section of a railroad track switch device comprising a stock rail, a switching rail that merges into a control rail such as a channel rail, a guide rail, a retainer that holds the switching rail as well as a slide device that slidably supports the switching rail between the stock rail and the guide rail is characterized in that the guide rail is made from a rolled section consisting of a rail steel by machining and changes into a section having a cross-sectional shape which corresponds to the control rail and which is formed by machining of a section of the rolled section.

[0019] In this case, to obtain the desired shape of the guide rail, the rolled section can be bent prior to this processing, in particular the machining, thereof. In particular, it is also possible that the rolled section receives its basic contour prior to the machining by e.g. autogenous gas cutting. Furthermore, the rolled section can be connected, e.g. by welding, with the retainer after the machining and the rolled section can then be bent to obtain the desired shape. Further details, advantages and features of the invention are found not only in the claims, the features to be found therein—alone or in combination—but also in the following description of a preferred embodiment which can be seen in the drawings, in which:

[0020]FIG. 1a shows a plan view of a railroad track switch device,

[0021]FIG. 1b shows a section of the device according to FIG. 1a, insofar as it relates to the guide rail,

[0022]FIG. 2 shows a section along the line A-A in FIG. 1a,

[0023]FIG. 3 shows a section along the line B-B in FIG. 1a,

[0024]FIG. 4 shows a section along the line C-C in FIG. 1a,

[0025]FIG. 5 shows a section along the line D-D in FIG. 1a,

[0026]FIG. 6 shows a perspective illustration of a section of an arrangement corresponding in principle to the railroad track switch device of FIG. 1,

[0027]FIG. 7 shows an alternative design of the guide rail in FIG. 1b in the area of a switch adapter, and

[0028]FIG. 8 shows a perspective illustration of a section of a railroad track switch device.

[0029] Essential elements of a railroad track switch device having a basically known construction can be seen in FIGS. 1a and 1 b in a plan view. This indicates that the railroad track switch device comprises a guide rail 10 and a stock rail 12 and a switching rail 14 which can be slidably adjusted on a sliding plate 16. Conventional control devices (not described in greater detail) can be used to adjust the switching rail 14. The switching rail 14 is fixed in a retainer 18 on the root side, i.e. secured in the retainer 18 by means of a wedge element 20 as per FIG. 4, as described by way of example in EP 603 883 B1. In this respect, reference is emphatically made to the disclosure of the corresponding document.

[0030] Outside of the railroad track switch device, the rail sections adjoin control rails such as channel rails which can be joined in the conventional manner by welding with the rail sections.

[0031] According to the invention, it is now provided that the guide rail 10 in the entire railroad track switch device up to the end 22 at the control rail side is a section of a rolled section, in particular, in the form of a structural rail such as a thick web rail 24, which is given the desired cross-sectional shape by machining.

[0032] In other words, a rolled rail-steel section is used as starting material, which is given the desired geometric shape inside the railroad track switch device, in particular by machining, in order to form the guide rail 10 on the one hand and, on the other hand, to receive a cross-sectional shape on the control rail side which corresponds to that of the control rail. This cross-sectional shape is identified by reference numeral 26 in FIG. 1b.

[0033] Prior to machining the rolled section 24, which will simply be called a structural rail in the following, it can be bent to the required degree, i.e. such that an outward bend results directly in front of the retainer 18 for the switching rail 14, also called switch adapter, as can be seen in FIG. 1b, or can obtain a desired contour shape as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 by e.g. cutting a corresponding profile.

[0034] The shape of the structural rail 24 relative to its web 28, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, to what degree it must be machined to obtain the desired end geometry along the switching device can be seen in FIG. 1b and in a comparison of FIG. 2 to FIG. 5. It is also especially clear from the basic illustration of FIG. 5 and the right sectional illustration in FIG. 1b that there is a geometry in the end area on the control rail side which corresponds to the control rail to be welded to the joint abutment 22.

[0035] In the area of the switch tip up to the switch adapter 18, the guide rail 10 has steps, which are not identified in greater detail, on which the slide plate 16 can be supported, which can be joined, particularly by welding, to the guide rail 10 and the stock rail 12. In this case, the slide plate 16 can essentially consist of smaller and larger slide plate sections 30, 32, 34, as shown in FIG. 6.

[0036] The switch adapter 18 itself is welded to the structural rail 24 (FIG. 4) and holds the switching rail 14 in its end on the control rail side, i.e. root side, in a clamping manner, as already mentioned, especially by wedge clamping plates 20. The channel 36 extending in this area and continuing in the control rail is thereby defined as follows. Channel flanks 38, on the one hand, and travel flanks 40 of the channel 36, on the other hand, are formed by sections of the structural rail 24 or the switching rail 14. The channel base 42 of the channel 36 is also a section of the structural rail 24, so that the switch adapter 18 itself does not directly limit the channel 36. Rather, the switch adapter 18 extends along the base 42 and the outer side 44 of the switching rail 14 facing away from the channel and is welded to the web 28 of the structural rail 24 on the one hand and to the foot 46 on the other hand.

[0037] Furthermore, it can be seen that the machined structural rail 24 extends to both sides of the switch adapter 18, seen in longitudinal direction.

[0038] If, seen from the tip of the switching rail, the bend of the structural rail 24 extends directly in front of the switch adapter 18, then a shape in the area of the switch adapter 18 according to FIG. 6 is also possible. However, the first construction is preferred.

[0039] A thick web rail (Type D 180/105) is especially suitable as structural section. Other structural rails such as filled line end rails, filled section rails or the like are also suitable.

[0040] A rectangular rolled rail-steel section having an edge length XY of e.g. 180×180 mm² was used as structural section to carry out the teaching of the invention in FIGS. 7 and 8. Independently thereof, the same reference numbers are used for the same elements in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 6. The contour and the shape of the guide rail 10 as well as the area in which the switch block 18 is connected, e.g. welded, to the structural section, as well as the area 50 corresponding to the cross-section 26 of a channel rail at the control rail side is produced by e.g. autogenous gas cutting of the initial section 124 or by similar methods and subsequent machining. The cross-sections in the peripheral areas, i.e. the guide rail 10 in the area of the switch tip on the one hand and the channel rail profile 26 in the end of the switching device on the control rail side on the other hand, can be clearly seen in the sectional illustrations of FIG. 7. This can also be seen in the perspective illustration of FIG. 8, in which slide plate sections 32, 34, as in FIG. 6, are also shown.

[0041] Furthermore, it is illustrated that the switching rail 14 merges at the oblique joint into the travel head 48 of the end section 50 of the rolled section 124, the cross-section 26 of which corresponds to the control rail. Consequently, the section 26 has the travel head 48, the channel head 52 as well as the channel 54 extending between them, which merges into the channel 36, as is shown in FIG. 4. 

1. Railroad track switch device comprising a stock rail (12), a switching rail (14) that merges into a control rail such as a channel rail, a guide rail (10), a retainer (18) that holds the switching rail on the control rail side in a force-fit, in particular by means of a wedge element, and a slide device (16, 30, 32, 34) that slidably supports the switching rail, characterized in that the guide rail (10) is a machined section of a rolled section (24, 124) of rail steel, which has a cross-section (26) corresponding to the control rail at the control rail side and seamlessly merges into it.
 2. Railroad track switch device according to claim 1, characterized in that the rolled section (24, 124) is made of rail steel or contains it.
 3. Railroad track switch device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the rolled section is a structural rail (24, 124).
 4. Railroad track switch device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the structural rail (24) is a thick web rail, a filled line end rail, a filled section rail or a rectangular rail (124).
 5. Railroad track switch device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the retainer (18), such as a switch adapter, holding the end of the switching rail (14) on the control rail side is welded to the machined rolled section (24, 124).
 6. Railroad track switch device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the retainer (18) holding the end of the switching rail (14) on the control rail side is a reforged section of the rolled section (24, 124).
 7. Railroad track switch device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the retainer (18) holding the end of the switching rail (14) on the control rail side is fixedly connected to the rolled section (23, 124) by means of screw connections.
 8. Railroad track switch device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rolled section (24, 124) is bent to obtain a shape corresponding to a conventional guide rail.
 9. Railroad track switch device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rolled section (24), before and after the retainer (18), is relatively offset, and in particular as viewed from the switch rail tip in front of the retainer (18) has a course before the retainer which is offset from the course in and beyond the retainer.
 10. Railroad track switch device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the retainer (18) is connected with the rolled section (24) at a distance from the end of said rolled section (24) on the control rail side.
 11. Railroad track switch device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the channel (36), which extends seamlessly into the control rail, is formed in the rolled section (24) before or after the connection of the retainer (18) with the rolled section (24).
 12. Railroad track switch device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the retainer (18) is connected, e.g. welded, to the web (28) and/or foot (46) of the structural rail as the rolled section (24).
 13. Railroad track switch device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the channel (36) is defined, in the area of the retainer (28), on its flank side, on the one hand, by the rolled section (24) and, on the other hand, by the switching rail (14) and by the rolled section at the bottom.
 14. Method for forming a railroad track switch device comprising a stock rail, a switching rail that merges into a control rail such as a channel rail, a guide rail, a retainer that holds the switching rail and a slide device that slidably supports the switching rail between the stock rail and the guide rail, characterized in that the guide rail is made from a rolled rail-steel section by machining and merges into a section having a cross-sectional shape which corresponds to the control rail and which is section formed by machining a section of the rolled section.
 15. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that the rolled section, prior to the processing, in particular the machining, thereof, is bent to obtain a desired shape of the guide rail.
 16. Method according to claim 13 and 14, characterized in that the machined rolled section is connected, in particular by welding, to the retainer receiving the end of the switching rail at the control rail side.
 17. Method according to claim 13 to 15, characterized in that the channel which merges into the channel rail is formed in the rolled section before or after the connection thereof with the retainer.
 18. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that the rolled section is given its basic cross-sectional shape by e.g. autogenous gas cutting prior to the machining.
 19. Method according to claim 13 or 17, characterized in that the rolled section is connected, e.g. welded, to the retainer after the machining and the rolled section is then bent to obtain the desired shape.
 20. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a rolled rail-steel section is used as the rolled section. 